“What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?” Sings Burt Bacharach in the back ground. Just pretend you here it too. It sets the electronic stages, so to speak.
As I initially set up JonahzSong, I explored in my mind what the central theme would be. For a few years I’d been writing a once to twice weekly devotional column distributed by a ministry in Australia. That ministry dropped the devotionals, moving in a different direction. I was still interested in devotionals, but I wanted to just write. I subtitled the blog, “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the L-RD. Jonah 2:9.” For me, it attempted to clarify the theme for JonahzSong, as well as explaining the meaning behind JonahzSong.
A few weeks ago, I took an online course in Blogging through WordPress. It was a good course, despite having been at this blog for a while now. One area it probed was the thematic approach to a Blog. What’s the central theme. It reminded me that I could re-evaluate the theme of JonahzSong. Am I on track? Have I deviated? If so, do I need to be drawn back? My answer is that I am on track—sort of. Even if I think I am, it seems prudent once and a while to examine things to see. Like Apostle Paul spoke about, at the end, it would be a shame if I ran the race in vain. So, initially, I just want to write with an aim at speaking to one or two or more persons who may find something to draw them closer in their walks with the Lord Jesus. JonahzSong needs to do four things, not necessarily at one time.
First, there is the inspiration toward Thanksgiving. Second, there is inherent in writing a sacrifice that benefits another person. Third, I wanted to write once-upon-a-time back in high school. I wandered around doing a lot of other things, thought did write for publications before and some after a degree in journalism. At the time, I thought I needed to have a career in writing. Now, with JonahzSong, with a Blog, I don’t need to earn a living from it. So I have the opportunity to write, and I simple need to discipline myself to do so, without the journalistic favorite of a deadline. So, I write to fulfill a vow, to myself. (There’s always a selfish element to what we do.) Fourth is along the lines of traditional devotionals, which attempt to share the knowledge that salvation belongs to the LORD.
So how’s it all work for the reader, reading someone’s rambling attempts? Here’s the way it worked for me the other day. I read a devotional by a pastor up in Michigan. It was a good devotional. It was concise, well written, and had several points that directed my attention to Jesus and one specific result. I realize that is important. One outcome of many is given. The writing is general enough for a divergent audience, yet provides a concise take away. For me, one of the best things about the devotional was that I was propelled toward the Lord to continue that study and find for my additional nuggets, pieces that drew attention to a missing piece of an emotional puzzle. The pastor wrote a value-added devotional.
I also realize that for my writing, I was inspired by Warren, whom I spoke about once. He shared with me how his wife volunteered him when his church’s pastor called for mentors, which he defined as “having made a lot of mistakes and being willing to share them.” It’s not enough to cry out “Jesus Saves!” There is a need to share the why and the how it has happened, and allow the reader to seek for his or her own salvation from the LORD.
All that said, I confess there are time when I wonder if anyone actually gets anything out of JonahzSong. It’s on those times that I need to consider it this way.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. Psalm 5:3
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
JonahzSong 